Social networking has being so influential all over the world especially the young generation who constitutes a larger population. However their has being concerns on how many countries have access to information and communication technologies in the world. A research done in Senegal has shown that a small number of Senegalese people have access to communication technology and how this has impacted in having difficulties in having social interaction with other states and also access to information within the country , media is the only source of acquiring new models and behavior. Facebook users has being mentioned and credited as the most used social networking site all over the world. Other social networking sites include Skype, twitter, LinkedIn, meetin, wayn, netlog among others (Sagna, 2000).

Communication has evolved since the use the early stages; people have embraced the internet especially the social media as a way of communication. The most common social network sites (SNS), include Facebook, twitter and Skype. Through these sites it is true that online social activities have increased in recent decades. Facebook is the most used social network site followed by twitter. Skype is the third most used social networking site; the site is unique with its video calling services (Sahoo & Das ,2009).

Facebook

Facebook as an avenue which enhances communication, it is the leading site in connecting people from places in the world and serves millions of people all over the world. Facebook has positive impact in the whole process of social networking, which includes messaging, mobilization of groups, spreading information and finding more friends and learning from different cultures. It has also lead to negative impacts in the general society like arching personal information which may affect one both physically and psychological (Maginecz, no date).

Advantages of Facebook as a tool of communication in public spheres

Facebook has in many occasions has been used as a mobilizing tool and has been used as by many in different fields. Facebook carries with it the feature of creating groups and events in which people use them to share common ideas about a certain matter concerning the society. The group then grows to a desired size. The common idea and grievances are then addressed to give a different options and solution to the problem. The Arab spring revolution that took part in the Northern African state was made possible though Facebook, in which groups on Facebook where created and followed, they where used to mobilize the youth to join against the many years of “oppression” by their leaders. This was successful since the demonstrations where carried on in a systematic manner. The international community also joint in and was made possible by Facebook. Facebook has acquired an international reputation on matters dealing with mobilizing groups with the shortest way possible.

Facebook also plays a manger role in the political scenes. It is used as a campaign tool by politicians in selling out their policies. Being the most used social network it’s then seen to many as the major campaign tool and the fastest and the easiest way to reach a wider youthful population. Major politicians in the world have used Facebook as their campaign mechanism; this has proven to be a success. For instance the Obama campaign was more of the Facebook to reach out to the American youth population. Facebook at the time commanded 70% of the USA population, the Obama campaign team used this number to increase the population bay creating a` Yes we can` fun page in which all policies ranging from the health issues to economic issues where addressed, this eventually lead to the defeat of his main rival and his success as the president of the united states of America (Stetler, 2008).

Also has been used as an advertisement tool, this has been due to its popularity among the youth. The social site is enabled in a way that there is share button where people can share pictures of products available in the market by a certain origination also has a section in which adverts are placed. This has been used by many organizations including Samsung where it has been effective for them to sell ideas about their S4 smart phone. This created anxiety about the new product approaching the market in which groups where formed about the phone. Many liked the page and provided an avenue for its popularity before it hit the market. Thus Facebook becomes the best way to carry out advertisement.

Facebook has been used in expanding the community beyond the once we are traditionally fond of. The society has become a global village due to the availability of Facebook for instance the football supporters are kept up-to-date and can share their views about a certain match that neither of them attended. They then use the Facebook platform to show their appreciation and at the same time show their disappointment. The entertainment industry has also gained from the usage of communication using Facebook to their advantage. For instance the American based rapper Eminem uses his large following on Facebook to advertise and promote his upcoming albums and reach out to fans worldwide.

Facebook has also been used as a dating site, the social network ahs been the main reason as to why many young couples are together it all started as a simple pork action and a friend request from their those dating become couples . It is also used to declare ones relationship status, for instance if one gets married then his Facebook status is updated to married. The power of Facebook not only crates an avenue of relationship but is used as a means of finding lost ones, past friends and relatives uses their Facebook in tracing each other.

Disadvantages of Facebook as a tool of communication in public spheres

Facebook although being used as a means of communication sphere amongst the public it emerges with negative experiences. The disadvantages range from the social seen to the ethical part of the society.Facebook has been termed by many to lack privacy, as any other internet site Facebook has faced the menace of hackers. They source personal information from there victims and temper with confidential information. This may also be as a result of personal mistakes for instance falling victims to fraudsters who ask for vital personal information with an ill motive. This also maybe caused by failure by a user to log out of their profiles (Cropf & Krummenacher, 2010).

The other disadvantage is the issue of false profiles of eminent personnel and leading companies and organization. The issue of fake profiles has resulted too many finding it difficult to actually differentiate between the genuine information and fake one. People a time are false informed on certain issues this a time reduce the reliability of Facebook on certain matters. Lastly it is perceived by many to be wastage in times of time. In that many get addicted thus other daily duties become affected. The issue of communication is vital but when overdone it becomes a bother Tnvrstar, (2013).

Twitter

Twitter has been used inas a tool of communication in public spheres. The social network has been termed as prestigious and mostly used by the prominent persons. It is similar to facebook but additional features are included to make it different from. It’s used mainly by the news agencies to communicate and interact with its listeners and viewers. Topics on twitter are referred to as trends.

Advantages in relation to communication in public sphere

Twitter has unique features, they include the follow feature. It enables many people to share a same platform and allow people with same ideas share and discuss issues affecting them as general. It’s the most peaceful way of squaring out issues without involving wars. They include political issues, where political rivals sell their ideas and counter each other in terms of ideas. For instance the Obama healthcare issue, being a trend in Twitter and was used by republican   to show express its weakness (Stetler, 2008). People using twitter are able to access breaking news and new trend and matters arising. This is made possible since most trend topics are viable for viewing without necessarily following the profile.

Disadvantage in relation to communication in public sphere

Many topics being trended eventually leads to violence, for instance the Tunisia revolution in a bid to eliminate chemical Ali from power. The youth revolution was made possible from the use of twitter. The result was violence across Tunis, people resulting lost lives and the same time many where displaced and infrastructure was destroyed as a result. It started as a single tweet and the result was a nation wide revolution.

Skype

The social network involves the use of video calls; this combines the use of the normal social network with the new aspects of video. It involves face to face conversation, using web camera. No matter ones distance Skye has made it possible to still keep in torch (Stetler, 2008).

Advantages of Skype

It has been possible to achieve certain aspect of communication without involving necessarily meeting a person physically. This has made it possible for deals to be sealed with parties’ being miles apart. This has reduced the cost of travelling and enhanced business deals between people trading. The effects and use of Skype has grown tremendously and has enhanced communication in public sphere. Skype has enabled the ability to communicate along different time zone. One can connect with family members without travelling to the destination (Sagna, O, 2000).

Skype combine all aspects of social networking which include sounds, words and video aspect. It is used to connect official duties with the comfort of ones living room. Skype has been used to carry medical operation without the presence of a doctor. This has enhanced communication among the medical fraternity on the other hand saving life. This has also been used in the teaching fraternity in which lecturers conduct lectures to their students without them being in the class room .This has saved on time and matter in which the education system conducts itself has been improved tremendously (Ellison, Nicole & Dana 2007).

Advantage of Skype

This application in the social networking sector has been seen as one that is limited since not all can access the application and at the same time it is termed to many as the one used in the upper end of the society. Many feel not associated with Skype due to its expensive nature since it involves the use of internet and purchase of video equipment in enhancing the communication (Ellison, Nicole & Dana 2007).

It’s a complex aspect as compared to other social networking sites. This makes it difficult for many social networkers to use the site since it is an array and combinations of many factors including the video aspect. Without one aspect communication will not take place effectively. More people using social network usually use facebook and twitter since it is easy to access even using a mobile phone and only requirement is an access to the internet. The use of Skype has been left to the few who can access who eventually are limited in number. Thus Skype has proven to less effective in expanding communication in the public sphere.

Conclusion

Social networking has proven to be the main application used in enhancing communication amongst the public. The nature at which the people have embraced it is an indicator at which the process has become effective amongst the majority of the population. The world is a global village and should accommodate every individual by using this social sites the differences in the nature of a person is forgotten and all are united under a common objective and nature of caring out day to day activities.

Social networking sites are nowadays created in a way that they all despite the terrain access them. It is perceived to be the fasted means of communication and hence most organizations and use it in communicating to the outside world. The social networking sites are common among the youths but also used by the media in communicating to the younger generation. In the spirit of embracing the social networking sites the positives must be adopted and the negative effects deal with in manner that reduces it. Such much as privacy is important there is need to embrace monitoring in the bid of avoiding violence and instead enhancing togetherness.

Reference

Westling, M. (2007) Expanding the public sphere: the impact of Facebook on political            communication.http://www.thenewvernacular.com/projects/facebook_and_political_communication.pdf

Cropf, R. A & Krummenacher, W. S. (2010) Information communication technologies and the    virtual public sphere: impacts of network structures on civil security. United States: Idea             Group Inc.

Sagna, O, (2000) Information and Communication Technologies and Social Development in Senegal, UNRID palais des Nations, Geneva Switzerland

Sahoo, JS & Das, B (2009) social networking sites, critical analysis of its impact on personal and social life, international journal of business and social science, vol.2 no.14 pp.1-7

Maginecz, A (no dates), advantages and disadvantages of facebook, http://www.euys.eu/pdf/en/175.pdf

CLICK BUTTON TO ORDER NOW